JORDAN / GIVE FOSTER YOUTH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACTION

"I believe that all individuals should have the right to education, services, and opportunities to be involved in shaping policies and practices that dictate their lives."

Jordan shares #HisStory:

"What Foster Youth Power means to me is giving the opportunity to support foster youth to organize and take action on impacting the child welfare system through their stories and experiences in care. Defining the policy issues that impact at-risk youth and foster youth can help the collaboration between youth, community leaders, and legislators at all levels of government to improve matters within social services.

Being connected to the foster care community has given me the opportunity to participate in an advocacy group called California Youth Connection, a youth-led organization run by current and former foster youth that advocate the child welfare system through legislative and policy changes. California Youth Connection has allowed me to participate in leadership roles to voice my experiences and concerns with the foster care system at the local level in Orange County and at the state level in California. For example, I was able to be part of AB 507, a bill that will require resource family training to support the case plans, goals, and needs of children in the resource family home. Current and former foster youth were able to draft the bill with Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio and Orange County legislators, who helped pass the bill.

In closing, I would like to share a quote by Malcolm X, "Nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything... you take it."